contents home cover 1. recommendations 2. introduction 3. the case for positive conditionality & international responsibility 4. the forest policy reform project & the steering committee 5. transparency 6. forest yield & revenue potential 7. concession activity and review 8. dfw–enforcement & jurisdiction 9. situation update–general special military region military region 1 military region 2 military region 3 military region 4 military region 5 10. the role of cambodia’s neighbours & other importing countries thailand laos vietnam japan 11. opportunities the forest stewardship council (fsc) protected areas and world heritage status 12. conclusion

9. SITUATION UPDATE–GENERAL On 6th January 1999 Hun Sen announced a crackdown on illegal logging which immediately affected log and sawn timber exports, particularly across the Vietnamese border and from Koh Kong. The crackdown has not, however, begun to tackle the core of the illegal logging problem, the leadership of the military regions and the stockpiles and logging equipment they control. In short, the whole machinery of the illegal log trade remains in place awaiting the release of the export ‘pause’ button. Any seizures publicised by the RGC recently must be regarded as token. THE MILITARY REGIONS The RCAF remain the single greatest threat to the preservation of Cambodia’s forests and to revenue collection for central government. The leadership of every military region controls and benefits from illegal logging, often with Prime Ministerial sanction. They exploit national parks, work as contractors for legal concessionaires and illegally log in other concessions. They intimidate forestry and other officials and the local population, thus abusing the rights of those it is their duty to protect. Special Military Region Military Region 1 Military Region 2 Military Region 3 Military Region 4 Military Region 5 back top next